The sound of hammering filled the Westlock FCSS office last Saturday for the community organization’s “Dad and Me” birdhouse-making event, although the numbers weren’t as high as organizers hoped.
Jacquie Tomkins, who hosted the event, said FCSS has done this type of event in the past and found it to be popular, so they gave it another try this year. “We’re just trying to do activities that are good for families,” she said.
For a small fee, FCSS provided the birdhouses and tools to the four families who attended.
Jim Campbell brought his granddaughter Katie, 3, and said he was happy to have the opportunity to spend some time together. “Her dad’s out of town on the job site, so I got elected,” he said. “I’m second best, which is the way it should be.”
He noted the attendance was fairly low, but said that didn’t matter much to him.
“It would have been nice if more people turned out, but now we get two houses each,” he said.
Katie didn’t seem to mind either, saying she was going to paint her birdhouse pink. She added she didn’t know what kind of birds might move in, but it didn’t matter to her as long as they stayed away from her house.
Richard Jackson brought his son Steven, 3, to build a birdhouse, and the two were obviously having a good time.
“It’s awesome. Me and Steven never get time alone with work and all, but when you can plan something like this it’s great,” he said.
Tony Punko worked on a birdhouse with his grandson Kaleb, 9. Both seemed to be having a good time as Kaleb began to paint the birdhouse green.
Tony said the two of them were well accustomed to working together on projects like this, but were happy for another opportunity to get together.
“We do quite a bit together. He’s my farm helper,” he said.
Tomkins said there are more family-friendly activities like this planned for the future, with three planned for October alone. On Oct. 7, FCSS will host a movie night in Barrhead, which will include transportation to the Roxy Theatre. Then on Oct. 27, they will host a mothers and kids scrapbooking day. At the end of the month, they will load a bus and head out to Clyde for the annual Clyde Haunted House.
“We try to keep the costs down,” Tomkins said. “Hopefully some of the families that aren’t normally able to do that will come out.”
For more information about coming events contact FCSS at 780-349-5900.
